Riding the Steam

Steam-powered engineering fascinates me. The sheer volume of things that can go wrong, and go boom as a result, is astounding. Even so, after decades of obsolescence these engineering marvels chug right along. They bring to mind steampunk associations. How can you go wrong with Victorian style, the futuristic imaginings of Jules Verne, and a lot of clanking, ratcheting, spinning and popping gadgetry?

What gets your steam boiling? Have you ever ridden one of these old trains? What other archaic modes of transportation have you tried?